Illustration from J.R.R. Tolkien's <i>The Return of the King</i>. I wanted to show a scene from the novel that isn't illustrated much, and I wanted to do it in a different way than what Peter Jackson and his team came up with.

In this scene, Aragorn has led Gimli, Legolas, and a contingent of Dúnedain rangers to the Dimholt in the valley of Harrowdale. The company has dismounted their horses and begun their approach to the Dark Door, which leads to the Paths of the Dead.

<i>And so they came at last deep into the glen; and there stood a sheer wall of rock, and in the wall the Dark Door gaped before them like the mouth of night. Signs and figures were carved above its wide arch too dim to read, and fear flowed from it like a grey vapour.</i>

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Done for Introduction to Illustration pt. 2 with Bob Dacey.

This one had a lot of layers. Starting from the bottom: Strathmore 500, matte medium, copy paper w/printed sketch, pencil and ink, matte medium, diluted clear gesso and white gesso, watercolors, spray fixative, matte medium, clear gesso, acrylics, spray fixative, clear gesso, watercolors, spray fixative, acrylics, spray fixative.

EDITED: uploaded better photo (edited slightly with PS CS4)